Pre-race favourite Sokwakhana Zazini hit it hard from the start, dominating the boys' 400m hurdles final with a spectacular performance at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 on Saturday night.

Holding the world youth best of 48.84, which he set back in March, Zazini went unchallenged and stormed across the line in 49.27, the third-fastest time in World U18 Championships history.

He finished well clear of Kenya's Moitalel Naadokila who grabbed the silver medal in a personal best of 52.06 to the delight of a large home crowd.

Baptiste Christophe of France took bronze in 52.21, and he too set a career record to earn his place on the podium.

“I feel great because I've really been looking forward to this moment, and now it has come. I'm really happy,” Zazini said.

"It didn't go exactly as planned because I had to change (my lead leg) but I couldn't. I don't know what happened.

"I wanted to break the world best again, but it's fine. I'll take it."

Niu Chunge of China racked up a flawless series in the final to win the girls' pole vault gold medal on Saturday evening at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017.

Niu cleared six heights in succession with her first attempts, clinching the title with a personal best of 4.20m and adding five centimetres to her previous career record to become China’s first world U18 champion in the event.

Lifting the bar to 4.30m, with the gold already in the bag, she was unable to make it over, but she had done enough.

Germany's Leni Wildgrube put up a fight for the top spot on the podium, successfully clearing 4.15m with her maiden attempt, but she was unable to match Niu's 4.20m effort and settled for the silver medal.

Anna Airault of France was unable to get over 4.15m or 4.20m, after carrying two of her attempts over, and she earned bronze with a 4.10m performance.

Six of the eight athletes in the line-up achieved personal bests, including all three medallists, with the pole vault contested as a straight final.

The first world U18 best of the championships was set today when Jordan Diaz of Cuba reached an incredible 17.30m in the fourth round of the boys' triple jump final, having set a championship record of 17.00m on his previous jump.

“I am very happy to have set the record here in Nairobi,” the elated Cuban said after the final. “I also thank my parents for their support. The crowd cheered me on, which was a great feeling.”

Diaz's mark erased the old best of 17.24m, set by his compatriot Lazaro Martinez in 2014. The 16-year old, who will still be eligible for U18 competition in 2018, improved his pre-competition best by 64 centimetres and moved to seventh on the 2017 world senior list.

In a closely fought battle for the other medals, South American U18 champion Frixon David Chilla of Ecuador took the silver with a personal best of 15.92m. Just behind him, Arnovis de Jesus Palmero of Colombia took bronze with 15.89m, also a personal best, with Yusniel Jorrin of Cuba a mere centimetre behind.

Diaz took control right from the start, with his 15.99m the best jump in round one by nearly half a metre. He went better on his second attempt, reaching 16.25m. By that point, everyone else would have needed a big personal best to get close.

But as it turned out, that was only the start. In the third round, Diaz executed much better technically and as soon as he landed, the spectators knew they had witnessed something special. And then the result flashed up on the board: 17.00m. The Cuban thus became not just the championship record holder, but also the second U18 athlete ever to reach the 17-metre barrier.

As Diaz stood up on the runway for his fourth jump, there was an air of excitement among the audience. Could he go even farther?

That question was answered in emphatic manner. The stadium exploded as Diaz landed well beyond the 17-metre line. And then exploded again when the distance was announced as 17.30m. The first world U18 best of these championships had just been set.

It must have been difficult to focus again after such a fantastic performance, so it was no surprise that Diaz passed on his next jump and fouled on his last.

Behind the Cuban, there was a hot battle going on for the other medals, starring the remaining Latin American jumpers. After Chilla had reached 15.50m in the first round, then Arnovis Dalmero overtook him with 15.52m in round two, before Cuba's No.2 Yusniel Jorrin jumped 15.57m.

On their third attempts, there was more change. Chilla, first in the jumping order, had a big one of 15.81m, re-taking the runner-up spot, but not for long. Dalmero responded with 15.89m, his best ever by a quarter of a metre.

Jorrin had a big foul in that round, but he made up for it on his next attempt. A jump of 15.88m moved him once again into the medals.

But again, it didn’t last long. In the fifth round, the Ecuadorian improved yet again, this time to a personal best of 15.92m.

There was no change to the medal order in the final round, although Jorrin had another good effort just short of what was necessary to make the podium. It was measured at 15.87m, just two centimetres away from a medal.

Owayne Owens of Jamaica finished in fifth with a last-round 15.55m. And there was the unusual sight of an Ethiopian placing well in a jumping event, as Adir Gur took sixth with 15.42m.

Kenyan middle-distance runner George Manangoi had the lively home crowd on its feet today evening as he stormed to victory in the boys' 1500m final in the afternoon session at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017.

After setting off at a relatively slow pace, the Ethiopian duo of Belete Mekonen and Abebe Dessassa took control of the pack in the early stages, but they seemed in no hurry and Mekonen led them through 800 metres in 2:07.58.

They eventually switched gears at the bell, launching a lengthy drive for the line in an effort to shake off a bunched field, but they were made to pay for their tactical approach.

Having sat back and played a waiting game, Manangoi, younger brother of world silver medallist Elijah Manangoi, was rewarded for his patience, drawing clear down the finishing straight to earn gold in 3:47.53.

Algeria’s Oussama Cherrad also produced a strong kick to take second place but he was later disqualified for obstructing an opponent.

Dessassa was elevated to second position, taking the silver medal in a personal best of 3:48.65.

Mekonen, who had entered the race with the fastest career best in the line-up (3:39.86), held on to take the bronze medal in 3:50.64.

Kenya’s Dominic Kipkemboi was a non-starter for the final, having appeared to have picked up an injury after winning his heat two days prior.

Liu Zhekai was the decisive winner of the boys' javelin with a personal best of 77.54m, becoming the first Chinese boy to win a world U18 title in the event.

Leading from round one, the Chinese thrower backed up his best with 76.96m, the second longest throw of the evening, and another solid attempt measured at 75.23m.

Johannes Schlebusch of South Africa took the silver with a last-round throw of 75.68m, and Song Qingshu made it two medals for China with 73.64m, also saving his best for the last round.

The competition started off well, with three boys throwing beyond the 70-metre line in round one. Liu was the early lead with 73.32m, ahead of Schlebusch's 72.31m, with the Polish world U18 leader Dawid Wegner in third with 70.56m.

The decisive moment came in round two. Liu sent the spear flying to 77.54m, which proved to be a distance none of his rivals could match on the day.

In round three, Schlebusch improved marginally to 72.61m, but otherwise, there was no change in the top positions for the majority of the final. It was only in the penultimate round that the competition was re-ignited.

First, Song Qingshu, down in fifth at that point, had an excellent throw of 70.64m to move into the medals, overtaking Wegner by just eight centimetres. Then Schlebusch improved his best to 74.00m, which in turn motivated the leader to get close to his best with 76.96m.

The order did not change in the final round, but that did not mean there was no excitement. The silver and bronze medallists both improved again. Song added exactly three metres to his best and Schlebusch threw a PB of 75.68m, moving to within two metres of the winner.

Liu ended the competition with a foul, but that took nothing away from the overall quality of his performance, or the winner's joy.

Even the subsequent torrential downpour that caused major disruptions to the programme could not dampen the sense of occasion as Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta declared the Nairobi 2017 IAAF World Under 18 (WU18) Championships open.

The Head of State gave his citizens the gift of attending the biggest track and field event ever hosted in Kenya free of charge as he officially welcomed competitors from over 129 nations who are bidding for a slice of history.

“This occasion is a very special one for me personally and for the Kenyan people. Sports, as you all know, occupy a unique place in our society.

“Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say, Kenya has been a major player in international sports and I assure you that in Kenya, you will find many enthusiastic sports’ fans,” the Kenyan leader said on Wednesday afternoon.

President Uhuru arrived at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani a few minutes past 4pm local time (+3GMT) and barely half an hour left to the start of the first event of the afternoon, the closing ceremony had to be cut short to keep the schedule running on time.

There was no customary team’s match past, firework, dances and other pomp and flair that ushers in such events.

Kenyans love their distance running, and so the women's 3000m final on Wednesday night was a race we badly wanted to win. With 100m to run, it looked like we were about to be granted our wish if only our leading lady Emmaculate Chepkirui had could hold onto the lead. Unfortunately she had company, unwanted company, in the form of Ethiopia's Abersh Minsewo, who drew alongside in a party-pooping manner of police showing up to a 21st birthday party. Arrested by fatigue, Chepkirui could offer nothing in response over the final metres, and the Ethiopian lady forged her way past for a memorable victory in 9:24.62, just 0.07 ahead of Chepkirui. Afterwards she knelt to kiss the track, a loving thank you for her finest hour.

Kenyans sent a strong message to the rest of the world with impressive performances as the IAAF World Under-18 Championships began at Kasarani Stadium yesterday.

Dominic Kipkemboi and George Manangoi laid down the marker with dominant displays in the boys’ 1,500m, finishing strong to confirm their rising status in a race Kenya has dominated over the years.

Front-running Kipkemboi, who opened a 40-metre lead at the bell, caused some panic in the stadium when he started limping in the 100m homestretch as Algerian Oussama Cherrad charged behind him.

Kipkemboi however held on to win the race in a personal best of 3:48.77, beating Cherrad (3:48.98) in heat one and booking a slot in Friday's final.Ethiopian Abebe Dessassa stopped the clock in 3:49.58 to finish third.Manangoi, featuring in heat two, also did what he was expected to as he easily won the race in 3:55.00. Ethiopia’s Belete Makonen (3:56.1) finished second while Ugandan Daniel Kiprop registered 3:58.68 for third place.

The world's top teenage athletes produced a superb evening session yesterday to keep the crowd on its feet at Kasarani Stadium, closing out the opening day of the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 in style.

In one of the most exciting contests of the night, the girls' shot put final went down to the wire in a thrilling three-way battle held in wet conditions.

Yu Tianxiao of China took the lead in the fifth round with a 17.62m effort, and teammate Sun Yue fell just three centimetres short of that mark with a 17.59m attempt.

With China looking to earn the top two spots on the podium, Germany's early leader Selina Dantzler spoiled the party with a 17.64m heave to grab the title.

On the track, the girls' 3000m final was equally close, with Ethiopia coming out on top of the host nation in a hard-fought race.

Pushed all the way to the line, Abersh Minsewo managed to snatch the gold medal. She narrowly edged out Emmaculate Chepkirui of Kenya by 0.07, winning the race in 9:24.69.

Minsewo's compatriot, Yitayish Mekonene, took third place in 9:28.46.

Sprinter Tshenolo Lemao delivered a historic performance in the boys' 100m final, becoming the first South African athlete to earn a medal over the distance at a world championship in any age division.

While compatriot Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Jamaica's Tyreke Wilson had entered the final as the favourites, Lemao held his composure after the race was disrupted by two faulty starts, charging across the line in 10.57.

Mlenga, who had earlier won his semifinal in a PB of 10.37 in dry conditions, secured a one-two for South Africa by covering the short dash in 10.61 and Wilson held on for bronze in 10.65.

Meanwhile, in preliminary rounds, Brazil's Lorraine Martins was the fastest of the qualifiers for the girls' 100m semifinals, to be held on Thursday afternoon. She won her heat in 11.85.

The IAAF world under 18 championship opening ceremony was was presided over by the President in a short and crisp ceremony without the usual camaraderie and elaborate display often witnessed in other global events such as the world championships, Fifa World Cup, and the Olympics.

The 30-minute opening ceremony started at 4.30pm with the Kenyan national anthem and that of the East Africa Legislative Assembly by the State band.

It was followed by a colourful march-past of hundreds of school pupils, who started at the stadium’s main entrance into the arena while displaying and waving the flags of the 131 participating countries.

As the pupils formed a circle inside the refurbished games arena, acrobats displayed their breathtaking artistic skills that left spectators in awe.

Championships patron and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta stole the show while flanked by former and current world beaters including world 800m record holder David Rudisha, world javelin champion Julius Yego, and former marathon world champion Douglas Wakiihuri.

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